Controlling device for refrigerating systems



y 1930. I v c. c. HANSEN 1,757,044

COKTROLLING DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed Feb. 14. 1927Patented May 6, 1930 b UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES C. HANSEN, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO REFBIGERATING SPE- CIALTIESCQ,OECHICAGQJLLINOIS, CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS coN'rRoLLIive nnvrcn r03anrzereEmrme svs'rnms Application filed February 1 4, 1927.. SerialNo.167,981.

r The invention relates to controlling devices for refrigeratingsystems. I

In freezing ice-cream by direct expansion systems, it has been foundthat by using dif- 5 ferential temperatures during the freezing of thecream, the product is greater in volume and possesses less density whichin many instances is preferred.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improvedcontrolling device for these freezing systems whereby the operator mayquickly and readily set the system to operate at different temperaturesor pressures, during the freezing of each batch of icecream orotherfreezing operations. This object is attained primarily by providingan automatic valve in the suction line of the refrigerating, systembetween the freezer and the compressor in conjunction with the usualexpansion {Valve which controls the fiow of-refrigerant to the freezer.This valve is provided with a device whereby it may besettoiautomatically open at one predetermined pressure, forexamplefifteenpounds- -during the first period,

of the freezing operation, and-then set to remain closed untilthepressure in the freezer reaches, for example fifty pounds, so thatthe x'refrigeration will be' finished bythe higher temperaturerefrigerantat the high pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitar device whichisadapted to be includedin tlie suction line and which provides for thequick adjustment for producing the predetermineddifferential pressuresdesired. f

The invention consists in 'th'elseveral novel features hereinafter set.forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.I a

In the drawings: Fig.1 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerating systemembodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the automaticvalve embodying the invention. Fig. 3 is a. plan. Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe valve plunger. Y

"The invention is exemplified in a refrigerating system comprising acompressor a, a

condenser 72, a refrigerant receiver 0, a freezer d connected to therecelver by a pipe 0' in which is included an expansion valve 0 a returnpipe'e leading from the freezer d to the suction side of thecompressora; and an automatic differential valve f included in the.

line between the freezer and the compressor.

The valve 7 comprises a body 10 provided with an inlet 11 to which thebranch of the pipe 6 from the freezer is connected; an outlet 12 towhich the branch of the pipe e which leads to the compressor isconnected; a valveseat 13 between the inlet and outlet; and a valveplunger let which isprovided with a suitable liner 27 to engage thevalve-seat 13 to close communication between the inlet 11 er marginofthe diaphragm isclamped by bolts 22 between a flange 2O integral withthe extension 15 and a flange 21 of a housing 23.

Bolts 22 also, serve to secure the housing 23 to'the top of'the body1O/of'tl'1e valve 10. Head 17 is vertically guided in a cylindricalportion 24 of the housingi23. The plunger comprises a lower wall inwhichthe liner 27 is held, ribs 14. which areslidable in the cylindri'calguide 15 of the body 10, and a top wall 26, all of which are integrallyformed. The liner may be removably secured to the plunger by screw 30.The diaphragm is exposed at all times to the pressure in the inlet sideof the casing through ducts 26 formed in themargins of the wall 26 ofthe plunger.

A coil spring 31 engages the top of the head 17 to normally hold thevalve closed and to resist its opening by the pressure of therefrigerantagainst the underside of the diaphragm 16. The lower end ofsaid spring is confined by a lug 33, on the head 17, and an abutmentmember 34: engages. the upper end of the spring and extends into it;Member 34 is arrested by a screw 35 which is threaded to a wall 36integrally formed with the housing the refrigerant in the freezer duringthe first period of operation will provide the desired temperature forsuch period.

A pin 40 extends and is slidable through screw and has .its lower endslidably mounted in abutment member 34. The upper end of the pin extendsabove the screw 35 so that the pin may be operated to control theoperation of the freezer to produce differential predetermined pressureduring the second period of the freezing operation. A device is providedwhereby the pin may be operated to compress the s )ring 31 to hold thevalve closed until the esired predetermined greater pressure is attainedin the inlet side of the valve-body. This device comprises a hand lever41 which is pivoted at 42 in a bracket 43 which is integrally formedwith the housing 23 and extends upwardly therefrom, a link 44 pivoted tothe lever, and a plunger 45 which is slidably guided in a bridge 46integrally formed with the bracket 43 and to which the link 44 ispivoted, and a screw 47 which is threaded to the plunger 45 and has itshead adapted to engage the u per end of the pin 40. The lever is operabdto shift the abutment screw 47 so that it will force the pin 40downwardly to put the spring 31 under greater pressure andcorrespondingly increase its resistance to the opening of t e diaphra mby the pressure of the refrigerant. Lin 44, when the lever 41 is loweredinto the position shown by dotted lines in Fi 2, passes substantiallyinto dead center reIation between the lever fulcrum 42 and the pivotbetween the link and the plunger 45, so that the lever will beautomatically held or locked in its lowered position to correspondinglylock the screw 47. By adjusting the screw 47, the stroke imparted tothepin 40 may be varied to vary the pressure required to shift thediaphragm to open the valve against the force of the spring 31.

The operation will be as follows: During the initial freezing period,the lever 41 will be raised so that screw 47 will be disengaged from thepin 40 so that the abutment member 34 will be free'to engage the screw35. At such time, the refrigerant passing through the jacket of thefreezer (Z will be at a relatively low pressure, for example fifteenpounds, so that said substantial pressure will be maintained in the linebetween the receiver 0 and the controlling device f. At the end of theinitial freezing period, when it is desired to carry on the freezingoperation at a higher temperature, the operator will lower the lever 41so that the screw 47 will engage pin 40 and force the member 34downwardly to increase the resistance of spring 31 so that the valve 14will not open until it retards the circulation of the refrigerantthrough the freezer by this predetermined higher pressure so that thelatter period of the freezing will be. effected at this highertemperature to reduce the density of the product.

The invention exemplifies improved controlling mechanism forrefrigerating systems, in which an automatic or pressurecontrolled valveis provided with means whereby it may be caused to open at iredetermineddifferential pressures, so that iy the simple manipulation of a lever,the operator may cause the freezing to be done at two diiierentpressures or temperatures. The valve and the adjusting device arecomprised in a single unit which may be readily installed in the suctionline for the refrigerant. The invention also exemplifies a device ofthis character which is particularly adapted for controlling theoperation of systems in which ammonia is used as the refrigeratingagent.

Theinvention is not to be understood as restricted to the details setforth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appendedclaims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a controlling device for 'refrigerat systems, the combination of acasing, a

val ve plunger in the casin a diaphragm exposed to the pressure ofconnected to operate the plunger,;.a spring applied to resist themovement of the diap ragm, an abutment screw for thespring, and' adevice for adjusting the spring Hide pendently of the screw so thediaphragm pressures.

I I 0 Enid in the cas ng;

will be operable by different predetermined :1

2. In a controlling device for refrigerat ing systems, the combinationof a'jcasmg, a valve plunger in the casing, a diaphragmexposed to thepressure of fluid in the casingconnected to operate the plunger, a'sprmg applied to resist the movement 'of the diaphragm, anabutment-screw for the spring,

and a device for adjusting the spring independentl of the screw so thediaphragm will.

e opera le by different predetermined pressures comprising a lever.

3. In a controlling device for refrigerating systems, the combination ofa casing, a valve plunger in the casing, a diaphragm exposed to thepressure of fluid in the casing connected to operate the plunger, aspring applied to resist the movement of the diaphragm, anabutment-screw for the spring, and a device for adjusting the springindependently of the screw so t 1e diaphragm will e operable bydifferent predetermined pressures comprising a lever and a pin extendingthrough said screw.

4. In a controlling device for refrigerating systems, the combination ofa casing, a valve plunger in the casing, a diaphragm exposed to thepressure of fluid in the casing connected to operate the plunger, aspring a plied to resist the movement of the diaphragm, anabutment-screw for the spring, and a device for adjusting the springindependently of the screw so the diaphragm will be Operable bydifferent predetermined pressures, comprising a lever, a slidableelement operable by the lever, an adjustable abutment on said element,and a pin engaged by the adjustable abutment and extending through thescrew.

5. In a device'for' controlling refrigerating systems, the combination 0a casing, 13. valve plunger therein, means controlled by the pressure ofthe fluid in the casing for opening the valve, a sprin for closing thevalve, and a device for qu-ic ly adjusting the spring to permit thevalve to be opened at two different predetermined pressures, comprisinga lever-and a self-locking connection to hold the lever in one position.

6. Ina refrigerating system, the combination of a refrigerant line, avalve in the suction side of the line between an evaporator and acompressor, a'diaphragm for operating the valve, operable by thepressure of the refrigerant in said suction side of the refrigerant lineto control the return of the refrigerant to the compressor, a springapplied to the diaphragm to force the valve into its closed position,and means slidably mounted and shiftable readily from one predeterminedposition into another for adjusting the spring with respect to tensionso as to control the o ening of the valve by two predetermined dierential pressures and cause the refrigerant to cool at two difierentpredetermined temperatures.

Signed at. Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of February, 1927.

40 CHARLES C. HANSEN.

